Onward to June and Summer, Fare the well May

As you probably know, the month of June is named from the Roman month Iunius, or Junius, which in turn is named in honor of the ancient Roman goddess Juno who is the wife of Jupiter and oversees marriage among other portfolio (and is associated with the Greek Hera).   For the Romans, the first half of Iunius is a period of religious purification and was considered the most favorable time to marry.

June is also the anniversary of the start this journal, so I may try and do something special for that.

Summer officially starts this month, so, any thoughts on a theme, readers?  Send me your suggestions and I will try to act on them.

May, 2021, saw the following posts on the design journal:

Festival – The Empress’ Birthday (RPG Blog Carnival)

The year in the Sea of Stars runs as dictated by the Empress and is universal across the entire world, the year consists of thirteen months of twenty-eight days each and one epagomenal day in the middle of summer, the Empress’ Birthday.

While the Empress does not demand or enforce celebration on this day, though naturally all of the lands she personally rules do, most communities celebrate it in one fashion or another.  It is often combined with other civic festivals, founding days, name days, all sorts of events get rolled into the big day.

Popular ways to celebrate include parades, speeches and firework displays.  Some groups have martial displays, gladiatorial combats are not unknown.  Plays, songs and other performance art celebrating (or at least acknowledging the power of the Empress) are expected not least because the Empress often visits out of the way communities on this day, sometime she is said to have visiting multiple places across vast distances but that can not be true, can it?

Over time, the plays have evolved from very formal and stately celebrations to more popular entertainment.  Many now use the plays and performances to comment on and satirize local politics and notables.  In a fashion similar to commedia dell’arte or the English Pantomime, the former usually performed by professional with the latter begin more ad hoc productions.  The Empress (and local dragons) are usually not the targets for such frivolity, as most dragons are rather thin skinned, though the Empress is occasionally (and somewhat ironically) cast in the role of deus ex machina on occasion.

How the characters could get involved:

• Attend a play or celebration.
• A wizard, or other spellcaster, could be hired to provide fireworks or illusions.  Especially at the last minute after the prepared firework got wet.
• If the characters are well known, they could be asked to perform or be drafted to act in the Panto.  Once in, they might be paid or pressured to include political commentary damaging to one of the local factions.
• Rumors say the empress has been spotted!  At our festival!

Notes:  This is in support of this month’s the RPG Blog Carnival, Adding Festivals, Holidays, and Birthdays to Your Game hosted by Full Moon Storytelling.

Image Details from “The Pantomimes of 1866”, found on Wikimedia Commons and is in the Public Domain.

Tuesday Magic Item – Traveller’s Helpful Book

“Books are not your usual purchase,” said Gollaon.

“The inscription on the front sold it to me,” said Voddick with a smile.  He showed the book to his friend.

“‘Panic not’, this reminds me of something.”

“Yes?  That does not surprise me, your knowledge of unusual things is unrivaled.”

“Well thank you my friend, it is good to have my talents recognized.”

Traveller’s Helpful Book

These books are deceptively slim, marked on the cover (in friendly letters) is the motto “Panic Not”.  The interior of the book is filled with information on more pages than could possibly fit into the volume.

Tuesday Magic Item – Guardian Hive Amulet

“I like bees, they are very industrious,” said Voddick, watching one fly by.

“Our new charges seems quite fond of them as well,” said Gollaon, looking around.

“The bees seem to like them as well, one happy family,” said Voddick with a smile.

“I suspect that has to do with the amulet.”

“That right, it has a bee design, does it not.”

“I suspect that is what cements the friendship.”

Guardian Hive Amulet

These amulets are usually made of precious metals and amber in the shape of a bee (or bees), honey combs and similar motifs.  In appropriate climbs, bees are attracted to the wearer but are never hostile (unless attacked by the wearer).

Tuesday Magic Item – Compass of New Worlds

“Well, good bye city life, hello new lands,” said Gollaon as the breeze ruffled their hair.

“I was enjoying city life.  A variety of ales and meats makes me quite happy,” said Voddick, only complaining a little.

“Well, there will be new ales and new meals as we travel,” said Gollaon leaning against the ship’s rail.

“Of the later, I have no doubt, the former . . .”

“Have we traveled anywhere where there was not some sort of ale, beer or wine?”

“Not yet, but there is always a first!”

Compass of New Worlds

These compasses are rare, having originally been made for the god of exploration, the design survived and has been replicated by they are challenging to build.  They are ship’s compasses made of fine materials and kept in sturdy and warded boxes to keep them from harm (and malign influences).

Shadowrun Campaign News and a new Seattle Scream Prop (#70)

We are continuing to play Shadowrun via the wonders of the proto-Matrix  (supported by Tyche’s Games our local game store) and we are getting back to limited in person play!  Hooray!

Our NorCal set campaign has moved to 6th World Edition rules, with mostly new characters, I am playing a magician as an excuse to learn the magic rules by actually using them.  We have played two session which was one run as there is a lot of adjusting for the players.  I hope to have some sort of writeup on that shortly.

Time fora new screamsheet: Seattle Scream 70.  The piece about Eye in the Sky films is related to one of the runs the characters were on.

Notes: Photo from Needpix.com and is listed as being in the Public Domain.

Tuesday Magic Item – Amulet of Mind Tricks

“Our new charge seem more more confident after acquiring that old amulet,” said Voddick before taking a sip of ale.

“Agreed,” said Gollaon.  He paused to dip some bread in his wine.  “Did you say odd or old?  Because it is both.”

“Old, but you are correct.  That iconography on it seems . . . very out of place.”

Gollaon looked back to see if he could get a better look, but no luck.  “I think it is something old or modeled on something old.  I have seen similar symbols on ancient ruins.”

Voddick nodded.  “We should try to learn more about it before it get our charge, or us, into trouble.”

Amulet of Mind Tricks

These amulets are old or, at least, give the impression of vast antiquity and being from a distant land.  They are always decorated with runes and symbols usually around a central design, usually made of brass decorated with gold or silver, occasional a crystal is inset, but this is not universal.

Review – Shadowrun: Street Wyrd

Shadowrun: Street Wyrd is the long awaited Core Magic Book for the new edition of Shadowrun, and it is going to be a required book for Shadowrun games masters as it provides so many new resources in spells, adept powers, metamagic, magical groups and so much more. And players will be happy with new ways to improve their characters.

Shadowrun: Street Wyrd, is the Core Magic Book for Shadowrun, Sixth World Edition, expanding the available options for magic in all of its wonderful forms.